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Who in the Bad Batch do you resemble the most personality wise ?

I'm curious. Today, as I was yet again losing investing my time browsing fanarts and headcanons, I came to the realisation that, despite Hunter being my favourite, I'm definitely a Wrecker. Like big time. And it's nice really, even though Mister Sexy Smoky Knife-Juggler has my heart ! Who do you guys think you resemble the most IRL ? Let's see what the fandom looks like !

Hide and Seek

word count: 1043

notes: ties in a little to my story "Sunset" but you don't need to read that to understand this.

Hunter sat, face towards the sun on the stone patio, a smirk on his lips. Giggles and shrieks came from inside the house. Omega was playing hide and seek with her “baby brothers” Stak, Deke and Mox. Judging from the noise, Hunter didn’t imagine any of them were winning.

Omega fell through the front door and onto the patio, “Huntah, you have to hide me,” she whispered, a grin spreading from ear to ear.

“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the game?” he replied, amused.

She rolled her eyes and brushed her blonde hair out of her face, eyes darting for another place to disappear. “I’ve already been under all the beds, a kitchen cupboard and behind a lamp in the living room.

“How did you hide behind a lamp?” Hunter asked, impressed.

She waved off his question with her hand and ducked under the bench he was sitting on.

“Omega,”

Just then Stak skidded onto the patio. “Where is she?” he asked, wild eyes

“I really don’t think you understand how this game works” Hunter chuckled.

“She’s won twelve games in a row. But I’ve got her this time” He sank to his knees, looking under the bench, the long wooden table and over the brick wall to the path beyond. “Ah! I thought she’d be here,” he said angrily.   

“Any luck yet?” Mox and Deke stuck their heads out of the door too.

“Nothing. She’s a ghost,” They all piled back inside the house to start the search again.

Hunter looked under the bench and couldn’t help but be proud. Omega was clinging to the underside, her arms and legs spread in an X shape. “Need a hand” he said, offering to help her extricate her from her current predicament.

She smiled, taking his offered hand to clambered out. “I really thought they’d get me this time,” she said, collapsing on the bench next to Hunter. “I guess climbing through the walls in Tantis was more useful than I thought.” She said it lightly, in the same sunshiny way she talked about everything, but a cloud had formed behind her eyes.

The smile faded from Hunter’s face too and he felt a twinge in his back that seemed to appear whenever Tantis was mentioned. “But we’re safe now,” he said, gazing out at the turquoise sea and breathing in the sweet, salty air of Pabu.  

“Uhuh” she agreed, leaning into his outstretched arm.

Hunter closed his eyes, again enjoying the warm sun on his face. A fresh breeze ruffled his hair.

“Huntah?”

“uhum?” he grunted, not moving from his contented spot. Soaking all the peace and warmth into his bones.

“You said we could be whatever we wanted to be now…”

Hunter opened his eyes and looked at her, his Omega. She was playing with the silver, Ingot necklace that he had given her. A remnant from his footlocker on the marauder. He had no idea how it survived the explosion.

The occasional part of the ship still washed up on Pabu’s beach. The chair from the gunners mount, a storage locker and the necklace, wrapped around some string lights.

“…what is it that you want to be?” she asked sheepishly

“That’s a good question, Kid.” He said with a sigh, “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

“Crosshair’s got his painting, Wrecker is fishing. I’m in school. You’re the only one who…” she trailed off, but he knew what she was trying to say.

Hunter had been the one pushing for a civilian life, a quiet life away from war. The irony wasn’t lost on him that he was the one struggling to adapt to it the most. He loved the quiet, the warmth and the wonder of the little things in their lives now. But he missed having a sense of purpose, a direction.

Tech had always called him the squad’s compass. Always pointing at the right track, but suddenly they had no direction. Their time was idle and serene. The only real job he had left was keeping an eye on his squad, and even that was pretty superfluous these days.

He turned and noticed Omega looking at him intently, her brow furrowed slightly.

“Is there something bothering you?” he asked

She looked down at her hands still playing with the necklace but was struggling to find the words, “I just…was thinking…I mean. You’re going off with Rex in a few days. And I know it’s just one mission but…what if you…what if you get hurt and we aren’t there to help you? Or what if you decide to leave, like Echo did,” the last part of the sentence fell out of her mouth almost involuntarily.

Hunter gave her a soft smile and sat up straighter so he could look her directly in her amber eyes.  “I’m not going anywhere, Kid. My place is with you and Crosshair and Wrecker.” He paused, thinking about the upcoming mission. It would be dangerous, he knew that. “I won’t be gone for too long. It’s just a favor for an old friend. This is my home. This is where I’ll come back to.”

Omega seemed satisfied with his reply. Her smile returned and she once again leaned into his arm and they both gazed at the sea. One of the islands many moon-yos jumped onto the stone wall in front of the patio, gazed at them both quickly and dashed off the catch up with its friends.

“GOTCHA,” Stak screeched.

Omega and Hunter turned around to take in the triumphant look on his face. He was sweaty, his dark hair brushed away from his eyes but sticking to his forehead.

Omega smiled at him, “were we still playing?” she asked before going back and looking out at the beautiful ocean view. It never ceased to impress.   

Hunter stifled a smile as Stak looked crestfallen. “Why don’t you check on Wrecker, I think he’s got a new batch of cookies coming out of the over any minute,” the cadet’s eyes lit up and he dived back through the door. The sweet scent wafted out to the patio, but Hunter and Omega remained on their bench, watching the ocean waves lap against the hull of the old boats. Just letting time pass.

Tested

Summary: Hunter and Rex go on a mission for intel and come across some unlikely acquaintances.

Word Count: 4349

“Are you sure you’re doing that right?” Rex asked,

“You know this is kind of my thing, right?” Hunter said exasperatedly. He was crouched, close to the ground, rolling dirt over his fingers. His helmet, or the replacement helmet he had been given by Echo, sat next to him on the ground. An unfamiliar face staring up at him.

Hunter understood where Rex was coming from. They had been at this for more rotations than he could count. He couldn’t even remember the name of the small, jungle like moon they found themselves on, but they seemed to be going in circles, and it wasn’t because of Hunter’s tracking skills. The muscles in his calves were screaming. Sweat dripped down his back and bandana was soaked through.

“Did you ever think that maybe this Jedi doesn’t want to be found and that’s why we’re having such a hard time.”

“I did.” He said smugly, clapping Hunter on the shoulder, “that’s why I brought the best,”

Hunter signed and got closer to the ground. They were close, he could sense it.

Suddenly he stood up, “Rex, move!” he shouted, shoving the captain out of the way just as the glowing blade of an emerald lightsaber fell to the ground where he had been moments before.

Hunter fell back onto the attack stance, blaster pulled and aiming in front of him. The stranger wore a black cloak, only his chin visible underneath.

“Well, well, well,” he said in a relaxed kind of way, “Captain Rex. I heard you were dead”

“Likewise, Master Vos,” Rex said cooly.

Both men relaxed their stance. Quinlan Vos lowered his hood, a cocky smile on his lips. His black hair hung past his shoulders, the yellow markings on his face seemed to glow in the green light of the lightsaber.

The hum on Vos’ laser sword still hung in the air. Hunter hadn’t lowered his weapon but had loosened his grip. He knew of Vos by reputation. But these were difficult times and given his last experience with a force user, he had no intention of letting his guard down.

“And who’s this?” Vos nodded at Hunter, “your tracker, I’m assuming?”

“That’s right, this is Hunter,”

Vos shut off his lightsaber with a snap hiss and stepped forward. He reached his hand out to shake Hunter’s, “not many people can track me. I’m impressed.” Hunter nodded but didn’t respond to the outstretched hand. He still wasn’t sure if they were safe yet or not.

“I don’t need to worry about you both trying to blast me, do I?” Vos asked with an amused expression, as if he’d like to see them try.

“We’re not working for the Empire.” Rex said simply, and that seemed to assuage any fears in Vos.

“So, what can I do for you, Captain” he asked, hooking his lightsaber to his belt and turning his back on them, walking through the thicket of trees, bushes and twigs crunching with every step.  

Rex looked at Hunter, shrugged and followed.

“We rescued a number of force sensitive children from the Empire. Are working to find their families, have found some but we think they’re being watched. We can’t return the kids to have them taken again. A friend suggested we try and find you. That you had a network that might be able to help.”

“A friend?” Vos asked, eyebrow raised.

“Fulcrum,” Rex responded quietly.

Hunter was only half listening to the conversation. There was something lingering at the edge of his senses that he couldn’t place. He could hear something in the tops of the trees. It was moving methodically, not like an animal. His eyes searched the dense canopy. The rustling was following them.

“We’ve got company” Hunter said quietly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Vos said with a shrug.

Hunter looked at Rex who just nodded and continued to follow the Jedi deeper into the forest. Hunter rested his hand on his blaster, held his virboknife and continued to trek.

It was some time before they reached a small cave like structure in a small clearing. A circular opening looked like it had been cut directly into the rock, Hunter assumed with the lightsaber hanging from Vos’ waist. He hated to think how long that had taken.

Rex settled on a large tree stump that lay horizontally on the ground. He sighed as he took off his helmet, wiping the sweat from his face. Hunter wasn’t ready to sit. He was still unsettled. Whatever was following them was still lingering at the edge of his senses. It was oddly familiar.  

Vos disappeared into the cave and came back without his cape and carrying a tray with a grey liquid in a bottle. “Figured we could all use a drink” he said.

There were four cups. Hunter raised his eyebrow at Rex. He had taken the cup he was handed but Hunter noticed he hadn’t taken a sip yet. The captain knew something was off too.

Hunter slowly turned around on the spot, looking out into the deep forest, through the trees. A gentle scent wafted over the clearing, flowers, ash and…death?

Hunter spun around; blaster raised to the tree line. He knew that scent.

“Have you come for round two?” a tall and slim figure emerged, the grey markings tracing down the side of her mouth, giving her a permanent scowl. He hair was longer now, chin length and cut in a slant as sharp as the side of a blade.

“Ventress?” Rex said, blaster up, eyes darting from Hunter and Vos.

“How’s Omega?,” Ventress asked, casually walking through the clearing and taking the seat next to Vos. Any closer and she would have been sitting on his lap.

Hunter didn’t answer, lower his weapon, or blink. He had turned on his heel to follow her as she walked.

“Another one of your acquaintances, my dear?” Vos asked her sweetly, pouring her a cup of the cloudy liquid. “Is there anyone you don’t know?”

“What can I say, I get around,” she replied with a smirk. She crossed her left leg over her right and knocked back the drink in one go.

Hunter was still scowling and wondering what Rex had gotten him into. He didn’t know Rex’s contact and who had put him on the path to Vos and Ventress, but he couldn’t help but wish he were back on Pabu with his squad. He, Crosshair, and Wrecker had been no match for Ventress the last time. He and Rex wouldn’t stand a chance against both her and Vos.

“Easy fellas,” Vos said, standing with his hands up as though approaching a wild animal. “She is no longer a Sith.”

“Something I believe I shared with you on your island,” Ventress added to Hunter.

“We didn’t get a great impression of which side you were on,”

“You’re still beathing, aren’t you?” Ventress replied, tucking her silver hair behind her ear.

Hunter hesitated but lowered his blaster. He watched out of the corner of his eye and Rex followed suit. They weren’t going to get anywhere with open hostility. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner the kids could get back to their families, and the sooner he could get back to his.

Rex cleared his throat, seemingly trying to get things back on track. “We’re looking for help relocating…”

“Force sensitive children. Yes, I heard” Ventress said. She looked at Hunter with a smile on her lips, “are you collecting them?”

Hunter scowled but didn’t respond. She was trying to get under his skin. It was working.

“Have the children been tested? Have their abilities been confirmed?”

“They were being kept at a secret facility run by an Imperial scientist working directly for the emperor. They wouldn’t have kept them if they weren’t” Hunter replied, bristling a little. He didn’t want the kids to have to go through anything else, especially Ventress’ ‘tests’.

“A secret facility?” Ventress looked at Vos who simply nodded. He seemed more than happy for her to take the lead. “And how did you hear about it?”

Hunter didn’t respond, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Ah… Omega. She was taken I’m assuming?”

Hunter felt a tightness in his check and a catch in his throat but kept his face blank. He didn’t want to think about the time she was taken from him. The many times she was taken. He fought the immediate need to check in with his squad on Pabu, making sure she was still there.

She was safe, she was fine. He repeated it again and again in his head until it took hold.

“So, what happened to the facility” Vos interjected

Hunter shrugged, “partially destroyed,”

“And the scientist?” Ventress asked.

A cloud fell over Hunter’s eyes. “He died.” He said calmly.

***

Hunter sat by the fire. Watching the embers spark and float into the deep forest night. He and Rex hadn’t had time to return to their base before nightfall. The woods weren’t safe to navigate in the dark, although Hunter had been prepared to take the risk.

Vos and Ventress did plan to help them. Rex’s contact had been right about that. Their small network was growing exponentially but it would still take time to locate a safe space for Jax and Sammi.  The kids had been in contact with their families, something Hunter was pleased about, but it hadn’t been safe enough to reunite them yet. He knew how painful that must be for their parents. They were willing to help Rex and Echo locate the families of Eva and Behrn, if possible.

Hunter heard the crack of a tree branch behind him, but didn’t stir. Rex sat down on the log opposite him and smiled.

“Need an extra set of eyes out here?” he asked

“Hm, not really,” Hunter replied, his eyes not leaving the fire, “but you’re welcome to stay.”

“I appreciate you doing this, Hunter. I know this is not where you want to be,”

“Happy to help, Rex. You know that.”

“I do,” Rex said, scratching at the stubble on his chin, “I hate to think the chaos your squad is getting into,” Rex chuckled.

Hunter smiled. He had been trying not to think about it. “I’m sure Crosshair’s keeping them in line,” he said. Rex, raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe not Cross. Omega then. If she’s following the rules herself that is.”

He knew she wouldn’t be. That kid had never heard an order and followed it.  He smiled at the thought of Omega’s big brown eyes and floppy blonde hair.

“This work you and Echo are doing. When’s it going to be enough, Rex? You can’t do this forever. There’s only so much time before your luck will run out. Trust me,”

“We’re in it for the long run,” Rex said with a confident smile and Hunter couldn’t help but think back to their first missions together, his unwavering belief and trust that he was on the right track. He admired his friend but feared for him too. If Rex was an optimist, then Hunter was a realist. This was a fight that was not easily won.

For so much of their lives, their decisions, had been made for them. Hunter didn’t know how any clone could want anything other than peace after the madness and misery of war.  

“You think we can trust them?” Hunter asked, nodding to the cave where Ventress and Vos had retreated to.

Rex looked pensive for a moment, like a memory flashed behind his eyes. “Not all Jedi are trustworthy, I’ll give you that. I trust Vos, I have no evidence not to but… Ventress…she’s something different. From the story of your encounter with her and some other things I’ve heard, I like to believe she’s changed…”

“We can’t trust these kids to just anyone.” Hunter said, adamantly. “We can’t let the empire get hold of them again. Who knows what they’d do to them this time.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Rex said firmly. “How are they doing on the Island, anyway?”

Hunter smiled, a wide, serene smile that he didn’t think he was capable of anywhere but Pabu. “Good. Adapting. Omega meditates with them most days. The oldest go to school. They’re being looked after by two neighboring families so we can keep an eye on them. Baryn is walking now although things tend to start flying when he loses his temper. There’s the occasional Jedi stuff with the others too but we have been able to keep it quiet. Contained.”

Rex smiled. “Fatherhood suits you,”

Hunter felt his cheeks get hot and brushed the comment off, “Well, someone’s got to look after them.”

“You did that for Omega too, you know. Do you ever think where she’d be if you hadn’t taken her with you?”

Hunter shook his head, but he had thought about it. She wouldn’t have been chased by bounty hunters, shot at, kidnapped and otherwise threatened. But she could have died on Kamino, or been sent to Tantis earlier.  It didn’t really matter, Hunter thought. She was meant to come with them. She was their family before they even knew it. She chose him before he had an opportunity to choose her. It was a choice he would make every single time.

“Why don’t you get some rest, Rex.” He said finally. “I’ll keep watch. We’ll switch in a few.”

Rex nodded and stepped closer to the treeline, put on his helmet and sat against a tree.

The creatures of this moon were making a strange trilling noise in the trees. The air smelled like wet dirt. The scent had been stuck in his nose for days. He longed for the sweet, salty air of Pabu and the dry heat instead of this wet, cloying environment.

Hunter pulled out his knife and started twirling it between his fingers. There was a time, as a cadet that his fingers would be covered in bandages, as he tried tricks with the blade. These days it was an extension of his hand. It was intuitive, a mindless activity.

It wasn’t long before Hunter sensed her behind him. Her footsteps wouldn’t have been detectable to anyone else, that’s the nature of the Jedi or Sith or whatever she was these days. But Hunter knew, he heard as soon as she stood up in the cave.

She stepped lightly over the log and sat down next to him, a little too close for comfort. Once again, she was trying to make him uncomfortable, and once again he hated that she was succeeding. Her angular face turned towards him. “How is Omega?”, she asked, her drawling voice quieter than usual.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, “curiosity got the best of you?” he asked, turning towards her and managing to put a little space between them at the same time.

“I suppose you could call it that,” she replied, running her long fingers through her chin length hair.

“Well, she hasn’t made anything levitate or explode like some of the other force sensitives I’ve met. Does than satisfy you?”

Ventress looked into the fire, deep in thought. Hunter frowned, watching as the orange flames danced in front of her face, making her eyes look like they were glowing.

“She is…unusual…”

“She’s unique,” Hunter corrected.

Ventress turned to him, eyes narrowed her eyes. “She’s not force sensitive. Why was the empire after her?”

“Why do you care?”

“Call it professional curiosity,” she said sarcastically.

“I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to. I don’t know.” Hunter said, lying. He knew Jedi should be able to sense when they were being deceived, he’d seen it in action during the war, but Ventress didn’t press, and he was thankful for it.

They sat in silence for a while. Listening to the strange calls of the creatures in the trees. Hearing the rustling of larger animals in the woods.

Ventress seemed to be comfortable with the silence, but Hunter found it intrusive, much like her presence. He didn’t know why she was here or what she wanted.

“You smell like death,” he said, into the night.

“I bet you’re really popular with the ladies,” she retorted.

Hunter rolled his eyes. It had been bothering him since she had appeared. He had been too fraught when they last met to notice but it was so obvious now.  There was something in the back of his senses, he couldn’t describe it, or see it, but it was there.

“Is it true you can see things through the force?”

Her eyes narrowed, “yes,”

“Like people?”

“All living things are connected through the force. But yes, I can see them, in my mind’s eye”

“Even dead people?” Hunter asked slowly, looking down at the knife he had been casually twirling his hands as he did so.

Ventress sat up straighter and shifted in her seat. This clearly wasn’t where she thought the conversation was going to go when she came out here.

“Yes… occasionally force sensitives can see, hear and even talk to the dead.” She paused; lips pursed as though holding in a question that didn’t want to be contained. “Why are you asking these things?”

Hunter ran his hand through his hair, “it doesn’t matter,” he said, suddenly feeling foolish. He wasn’t ready to talk about this. Why would he bring it up with this woman of all people? He hadn’t even brought this up to his family. Was that why he had been so interested in leaving Pabu? Was the stress of keeping this secret from them easier at a distance?

Ventress was staring at him intently, unwilling to let her question go. “Should I have tested you instead of Omega?”

Hunter scoffed, “I’m no Jedi,” he said, amusement in his voice.

Ventress narrowed her eyes at him again. “Stand up,” she barked, snatching the blade out of his hands. “Over there,” she gestured a few meters away. Normally, a former Sith assassin stealing his knife would set off alarm bells, but Hunter didn’t feel threatened. Without thinking he followed her directions.

“Close your eyes,” she said in the same tone, “I’m going to throw your knife. Try and catch it”

“I am not force sensitive,” he said exacerbated, “The Kaminoan’s enhanced my senses.”

“And what do you think force sensitivity is?” she asked, dryly. “Now close your eyes,”

Hunter huffed. He thought of the look on Crosshair’s face when he told him he willingly let Ventress throw a knife at him, smiled to himself and closed his eyes.

He felt his senses start to tingle, as though they were reaching out to try and find the knife. He heard Ventress pull the blade back to her ear.  As she released the knife it made a schwing sound though the air. He heard it as if came closer, second by second until his hand shot out, involuntarily, and the hilt fell into his palm.

Ventress crossed her arms looking smug, but Hunter just shook his head.

“I’ve been catching knives and everything else by brothers could throw at me since I was a cadet. This doesn’t mean anything,”

“It means I should test you further”

“Ventress,” it was the first time he had used her name, in the same tone he would use Crosshair’s or Phee’s, and it took him aback. He cleared his throat and started again, “I was just asking because…”

“You can sense dead people.”

“Just the one, my brother. But yes,”

“Well, technically two. You sensed me as well, remember? There were three people in this galaxy who knew I died. There is no way you would have known, unless you sensed it. You have no way of knowing how the Kaminoans enhanced your particular skills. They had access to Jedi. Perhaps you were supposed to be force sensitive.”

“But I’m not.”

“That remains to be seen. I can’t sense your brother in the force right now. Perhaps he’s not around but I can sense you. You look different in the force than your friend,” she nodded to Rex, sleeping slumped against a tree. How he was sleeping through this conversation Hunter didn’t know. “All clones are unique in the force, but even Omega didn’t look like this. Perhaps you find these force sensitive children, protect them, because you can sense them through the force.”

“Does it matter? It just matters that they’re safe,” He replied. He had thousands of thoughts jumping through his mind. He was suddenly overwhelmingly tired. He wished Rex would wake up and Ventress would leave.

Ventress shrugged, “it doesn’t matter to me, beyond mild curiosity. But the force works in mysterious ways, and it sent you here for a reason, perhaps it was to discover this information.”

Her words hung in the air. Hunter didn’t know how to respond. Had no way to respond. He was different by design; they all were, but could it be possible? Did he want it to be possible? He needed to talk to Tech, ask him what he thought. But that was easier said than done. The silence hung there.

He hastily changed the subject. “This path you’ve created. How safe is it?”

“As safe as anything now days.” She replied cooly. She paused and looked intently at his face, as though trying to read his mind.

“So, not safe at all,” he said, more to himself than her.

“Your children will be protected by Quinlan and myself. It doesn’t get much safer than that,”

“They’re not my children,” he insisted. Although they might as well be.

“You could help, you know. Your skills would be useful.  I could continue to test you. Perhaps between the Quinlan and I, we could give you some answers.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow. “I’m retired,”

“And I’m dead, yet here we are. Think of all those children and survivors who need help, just like Omega. You could do a lot of good.”

“I’ve got my own family to look after.”

“Then why are you here?” she asked pointedly.

Hunter paused. The light of fire was dimming now, the embers fading from bright red and orange to cool yellow amid the tangle of twigs and leaves. He had thought of little else but returning to Pabu during his time with Rex, usually in the quiet moments. But when on the island he struggled to find purpose. When you have been going night and day since you were born, slowing down was a strange sensation. But the longer he was away, the more he thought it was something he could learn to be satisfied with.

“Hmm.” Ventress cooed “well, if Island life ever gets too dull, I’m sure you can track us down,”

She stood up and sauntered back to the cave. Hunter sat bemused for a moment, staring out into the darkness of the forest. He really needed to get back home.

***

Hunter was at the ramp before the ship had even landed. The heat of Pabu hit him as soon as the ramp started to lower. The sweet, ubiquitous scent of blossom from the weeping maya tree, cooking smells from the market and salty air of the surrounding sea signaled that he was finally home.

Omega ran at him as soon as he hit the stone top of Pabu. He kneeled to hug her and then stood so her short legs dangled. She giggled and hugged his neck tighter, burying her cheek into chest. She had grown since he had left. Her hair was longer down her back, her bangs stretched to fit tightly into the braid.

“Huntah, we missed you,” she said with a beaming smile.

His brothers, Crosshair and Wrecker both came forward. Wrecker giving him his usual, spine crushing hug and Crosshair, a slap on the shoulder.

“Managed to stay alive then?” Crosshair said with a smirk.

“Yeah, despite Ventress’ best efforts,” Omega, Crosshair and Wrecker exchanged confused looked and exploded with questions at once.

“We can talk about it when we get home,” Hunter said with a smile.

They walked back to their little house. After some time in the refresher, Hunter, clean for what felt like the first time since he left, joined his family at the table on the patio.

Wrecker had created a feast. The table heaved under plates of fish, cooked meat from the market, fruits and vegetables and a sweet dessert that Omega had decorated with flowers.

“So, was the mission a success?” Wrecker asked as Hunter took the seat opposite.

“Yeah, you could say that. We found the target. Two for the price of one it turns out. They’re going to help the kids find their families find a safe place…”

“And where does Ventress fit in,” Crosshair asked cooly “I knew I should have gone with you,”

“She and Vos are an item. They may have been together before we met her last,”

“And why are you alive despite her best efforts?” Crosshair continued.

Hunter knew his brother wouldn’t let that comment go. He paused and took a sip of his wine. The liquid was sweet with a bitter, rich aftertaste. “ I let her throw my knife at me while my eyes were closed,”

“YOU DID WHAT?” Crosshair, Wrecker and Omega all shouted in unison. Batcher started underneath the table at the noise, shook head so her collar tinkled and laid back down on the warm stone patio.

Hunter chuckled and gazed out over Pabu’s harbor. He felt a familiar prickling at the edge of his senses and closed his eyes to see Tech in his mind’s eye.

He smiled at his fallen brother.  He supposed now as was good a time as any. He nodded to the empty chair they always kept for him at the family table, and sensed Tech slide into it. There was a slight scraping noise on the stone, but he was the only one to notice. Omega, Crosshair and Wrecker looked at him quizzically.

Hunter sighed, put down his glass and faced his family. “I have a lot to tell you.”